Pearls of Wisdom - Darcy v. Heathcliff

This is actually a rerun but it aired originally on another channel. I wrote this post for my own blog over a year ago. This week, I was running around like a maniac because my 13-year-old son was performing at his school's high school graduation ceremonies and then celebrating his own junior high grad ceremony the very next day. I totally forgot about my "Pearls of Wisdom" column! So I dug deep and came up with this item. It has nothing and everything to do with writing romance novels. Nothing, because it's not about the business of writing. And everything because if you don't know which kind of girl you are, you'll definitely have trouble creating a believable hero for your story. Enjoy!

A while ago, a friend and I were having a discussion about great heroes of romantic literature. I put forth my long-held theory that ALL romance heroes are one of two types, and that therefore all romance-loving women are one of two types too - either Darcy women or Heathcliff women.

No, I do not have any scientific research to back me up. But I do have a lot of anecdotal evidence. Over the years, I've talked to a lot of women about these two great romantic archetypes and the one thing I keep finding is that most women seem to go one way or the other. I never meet a woman who says, I love Darcy and I love Heathcliff too.

Nope, never happens. Someone inevitably says, Well, I suppose Heathcliff is okay if you like the domineering, manipulative sort, but oh, that Mr. Darcy! Or they might say: Darcy? That old stick in the mud? Give me a real man of feeling like Heathcliff any day!

To me, the reason is obvious. Heathcliff and Darcy are complete opposites. One is bitter and brooding and dangerously obessed with his woman; the other is aloof and unemotional but steadfastly faithful to his.


I think there's an underlying suspicion that Heathcliff will be the more passionate lover of the two, but personally, I doubt that. I think Heathcliff would probably be a real wham, bam, thank-you-ma'am type, to be honest. Because he's all about what he wants. And if he can't have Catherine, then he'll destroy anyone and everything in order to exact his revenge. In a way, it's flattering to know a guy wants you that much, I suppose. But I think it plays way better in a book than it does in real life. I've never been the victim of such obsessive devotion, and I hope I never am. I've had a few friends who lived with that kind of passion - mostly it just ended very badly, with lots of bruises and black eyes.

In some cases, age probably affects which hero you find more attractive. All that burning intensity in Heathcliff looks real exciting when you're very young. But after he's given you the third-degree for just speaking to another man a few times, that attitude can lose its appeal.

And that's when you start to see the merits of that old stick in the mud, Mr. Darcy. There's a lot to be said for that slightly snobby, aloof guy who doesn't fall all over you but shows up when your whole world is falling apart and bails you out of the mess. Then tells you to think nothing of it. Heathcliff wants to possess you; Darcy wants to take care of you.



And now I guess you can tell from my analysis which camp I belong to! So what about you? Are you a Darcy girl or a Heathcliff devotee?